1400 LGBT+ Catholics in historical pilgrimage

Since the opening of the Holy Porte by Pope Francis last December, Rome has lived to the rhythm of the jubilee year. In addition to major events such as the young people of young people this summer, or that of the poor to come in November, every day thousands of pilgrims go up in procession the via della conciliazione which leads to the Saint-Pierre basilica.

Scouts, dioceses, schools, religious congregations …: all the diversity of the Church and its movements responds to the call to come and celebrate the jubilee of hope in the eternal city. 24 million followers, according to the Vatican, have crossed the holy door in eight months.

“A place for all”

On September 6, for a slightly attentive eye, a group was slightly detonated from the rest of the pilgrims. There, a bracelet or a fan attract the eye. Here, a pattern on a T-shirt, a pair of socks or a hat; pinned on the white habit of a Dominican, a pinches in the shape of a sheep. Particularity of these accessories? Their rainbow color, a sign of rallying of homosexual, bisexual and transgender people.

It is the first time that a jubilee pilgrimage has been organized in Rome for these people and their families. Some 1,400 Catholics from 23 countries – including a large hundred French people – have answered the call, sustaining I greet you Marie and songs from World Youth Days. Pilgrims among pilgrims, under the same Roman blank sun.

“We organized this pilgrimage to tell the young people concerned that there is a place for all in the church, each as it is,” explains Mara, vice-president of the Tenda di gionata (Jonathan’s tentin French), the main organizing association, involved in pastoral care with LGBT + people and their families.

Like any other movement in a jubilee approach, the pilgrims asked the Holy See to be registered in the official calendar. The Vatican accepted, indicating on its website “Pilgrimage to the Tenda Di Gionata and other associations”. If their specificity is not mentioned, this indication is far from anecdotal, implicitly testifying to recognition of these associations.

A wounded faith

Another sign: the Jesuit church of Gesù had been proposed as a rallying place for pilgrims. This baroque building in the heart of Rome, which in particular houses the chasse of Saint Ignace de Loyola, is an essential monument. “We are not received on the sidelines!” Enthuses Pierre-Marie, of the French association of Arc-en-En- sky.

A few hours before the passage of the Holy Porte, Mgr Francesco Savino, vice-president of the Italian bishops, presided over a mass with the neat liturgy. His homily centered on hope, with carefully weighed words – he will never use the expressions “LGBT” or “homosexual people” -, recalled that “the love of God gives us analterable dignity”; And to launch, arousing long applause: “It is time to restore their dignity to each, especially to the one to whom she was denied!”

The faith of many of these pilgrims, in fact, has often been deeply injured. “When my daughter was struggling with her identity and her orientation, what she could hear at chaplaincy pressed her,” regrets Claire, co -founder of recognition, a movement of parents of LGBT people, while going up the via della conciliazione. “The injury to me is not to be homo is to have to shave the walls, including within the church,” continues Henri. “We did not find in her a welcoming mother,” sums up another. This meeting came to change the situation.

“In 2024, I participated in the WYD in Lisbon (Portugal), but I felt like I could not be myself,” says Sixtine. This pilgrimage gives me the opportunity to relive what I lived there, but in a inclusive way. ” A medical student, she came with her partner.

“This jubilee is for us a taste of the unity that we would like to live within the Church,” said Joseph, a member of becoming one in Christ. “We came to jubilant with the church, because we are happy to be part of it by our baptism”, underlines Timothée, of the same association.

Expectations persist

Would relationships be fully peaceful? “It is not the time for claims,” ​​evades the forties. This prudence explains the relative discretion of the 1400 people and the absence-with a few exceptions-large rainbow flags. In fact, recommendation was given not to take out the standard. “It’s a pilgrimage, not a pride march!” Sistine to a member of his group, rather doubtful in the face of this instruction. Because misunderstandings remain.

“Our situation is not chosen,” says Jérôme, in profound tension between his homosexuality and the fear of being rejected by his very practicing family. So that we can unify our lives and bear fruit, the different components of our lives must be respected. ” “Too often, our faith is judged because of our sexual orientation,” says a couple of Italian women.

For the time being, time was in celebration and gratitude towards Pope Francis, without which, in the opinion of all, such a pilgrimage could never have taken place. And Leon XIV? In his homily, Mgr Savino assured that the latter had encouraged him to celebrate this mass. On September 1, Father James J. Martin, very involved in the Pastoral of LGBT +people, was also received by the Pope, who would also have encouraged him. But he warns: “Although LGBT +questions* also including Queers, are on the radar of Leon XIV, other things can be more urgent at the moment”

*The acronym LGBT + refers to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. The letter Q, sometimes added, designates the queers, which affirm their refusal of the sex -related categories.